Ellen Croezer

A Passion for Sewing Turned Into a Factory, an Empowered Workforce, and a Legacy of Quality.

About Us

Our story begins on a farm in the Free State, where founder Ellen Croeser first discovered her passion for sewing and craftsmanship.

Growing up in a family of five children, with shops far from home, creativity and self-reliance were part of everyday life. Ellen’s mother offered tailoring classes to local farmers’ wives, and from a young age she taught her daughters how to sew their own garments. This early exposure sparked a lifelong love for clothing design and manufacturing.

Ellen continued developing her skills throughout her education. In school she studied Domestic Science, and later at university in Potchefstroom she majored in catering and needlecraft/tailoring. Her talent and dedication were evident early on — she designed and manufactured her own wedding dress, her husband’s suit, and the bridesmaids’ dresses.

While working as a teacher, Ellen began building a loyal client base on the side. She designed and manufactured custom garments for individuals, including matric dance dresses, wedding gowns, and specialized textile work for corporate clients.

After 14 years in teaching, Ellen took a leap of faith and started her own clothing factory in an empty building on her property in 1999. Beginning with just two employees, the business soon secured a contract with Blue Max to manufacture windbreakers. As demand grew, the product range expanded to golf shirts, and the company rapidly scaled production.

The partnership flourished. Eventually, all golf shirt manufacturing for Blue Max was moved to Ellen’s factory. To meet demand, a larger double-story factory was built, employing 42 workers and producing up to 16,000 golf shirts per month.

Like many manufacturers, the business later faced significant challenges when international imports impacted the local clothing market. When the company’s main client was affected, the factory had to reinvent itself. With only six workers remaining, Ellen personally sought new clients and retrained her team to manufacture more complex garments.

Through determination and innovation, the factory diversified into producing jackets, pants, sportswear, corporate wear, hospital uniforms, children’s clothing, and government contract garments. Over time, the company established itself as a trusted manufacturer for 15 schools, producing uniforms for private schools, government schools, crèches, and dance academies, while also supplying varsity shops and even a college in Parys, France.

During the global COVID-19 Pandemic, when school uniforms were temporarily unnecessary, the factory once again adapted — producing masks to keep the business and its employees going.

Remarkably, the company has grown almost entirely through word-of-mouth. Exceptional quality, reliability, and strong customer relationships have been the driving force behind its continued success.

Over the years, the factory has also produced garments directly and indirectly for respected organizations and institutions including BMW, Netcare, as well as government departments such as Nature Conservation, the Agricultural Department, and Parks and Recreation.

Today, the vision remains clear:
to help revitalize South Africa’s clothing manufacturing industry, train new generations in sewing and garment production, create sustainable employment opportunities, and grow a proudly South African clothing brand that can reach both local and international markets.